We set up a school wide iTunes account so that any app purchased was available for any iPod or iPad set up with the school account.
Laptop for syncing
I found it easier to have a laptop set up with iTunes as the school iTunes account. However you can have up to 5 computers set up to use one iTunes account. This allowed whoever was borrowing them to easily sync and/or charge them, as each iPad/iPod can only be set up to sync with one computer at a time.
Saving work
We have used two ways of saving students work. When using apples iWork apps they allow you to copy the files to and from a server, so students could then save or open there work from their own folders on the network. Most other applications allow you to email content created with them. So the easiest way was to set up a email account for the iPads/iPods that students could use to email their work to their own or their teachers email. The drawback with emailing is that you generally can not edit the work once it has been emailed, so students need to complete work before sending it.
Individualising devices
At first students found it hard to easily find which device their work was on. So we numbered each device and set the background picture as its number so it was quick and easy to find which one they working on
Charging
Charging has been a hassle as all computer/iPads/iPods must be locked in cupboards outside school hours, so charging can only happen during the day. iPads come with their own charges which makes it easier to plug them in individually. iPods don't come with their own chargers, however you can buy them. We found the cheapest option was to buy a powered USB hub that allows you to charge and sync multiple iPads/iPods and once.
Using restrictions
Restrictions was a new addition to iOS 4. They allow you to easily lock down settings on the iPads and iPods. Such as stopping apps from being added or deleted.
School iTunes Account
We set up a school wide iTunes account so that any app purchased was available for any iPod or iPad set up with the school account.
Laptop for syncing
I found it easier to have a laptop set up with iTunes as the school iTunes account. However you can have up to 5 computers set up to use one iTunes account. This allowed whoever was borrowing them to easily sync and/or charge them, as each iPad/iPod can only be set up to sync with one computer at a time.
Saving work
We have used two ways of saving students work. When using apples iWork apps they allow you to copy the files to and from a server, so students could then save or open there work from their own folders on the network. Most other applications allow you to email content created with them. So the easiest way was to set up a email account for the iPads/iPods that students could use to email their work to their own or their teachers email. The drawback with emailing is that you generally can not edit the work once it has been emailed, so students need to complete work before sending it.
Individualising devices
At first students found it hard to easily find which device their work was on. So we numbered each device and set the background picture as its number so it was quick and easy to find which one they working on
Charging
Charging has been a hassle as all computer/iPads/iPods must be locked in cupboards outside school hours, so charging can only happen during the day. iPads come with their own charges which makes it easier to plug them in individually. iPods don't come with their own chargers, however you can buy them. We found the cheapest option was to buy a powered USB hub that allows you to charge and sync multiple iPads/iPods and once.
Using restrictions
Restrictions was a new addition to iOS 4. They allow you to easily lock down settings on the iPads and iPods. Such as stopping apps from being added or deleted.
Other Links
http://learninginhand.com/blog/classroom-ipod-touches-ipads-dos-and-donts.html